Bogotá, March 24: The death toll from a military plane crash in the Putumayo region of southern Colombia has risen to 66, with 57 others reported injured, according to local media citing military sources.
Colombian Aerospace Force (FAC) Commander Carlos Silva stated in a video posted on social media that the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft was carrying 114 passengers and 11 crew members. An investigation team has been dispatched to determine the cause of the crash.
In a separate video, Colombian Air Force Commander Fernando Silva confirmed the number of personnel on board and mentioned that officials are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Colombia’s Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez reported on Monday that the transport aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from Puerto Leguizamo. The military is present at the crash site, and the cause of the accident remains unknown. Sánchez expressed deep condolences to the victims’ families and assured that all necessary measures are being taken to assist those affected. Some injured soldiers have been transported to the capital, Bogotá, for treatment.
President Gustavo Petro took to social media to state that the status of over 40 individuals on board has yet to be confirmed. He lamented that the accident should not have occurred and expressed regret over the lack of modernization within the armed forces, attributing it to “bureaucratic difficulties.” President Petro also visited the crash site to thank those who attempted to save lives.
Earlier, Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez noted on social media that the accident occurred when the Lockheed Martin-built Hercules C-130 aircraft was departing from Puerto Leguizamo, located near the Peruvian border.
Flight data indicates that the aircraft was a C-130H Hercules, an older model in the C-130 series that first entered service in March 1965. According to the manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, the aircraft was donated to the Colombian Air Force by the U.S. Air Force in September 2020.
Footage shared on social media shows the aircraft, carrying soldiers, rapidly descending shortly after takeoff. Local sources, including Blu Radio, reported heavy smoke rising from the wreckage following the crash, which occurred just 3 kilometers from a populated area. However, HT has not independently verified these visuals.
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